Multiphase flowmeters and related methods

ABSTRACT

Multiphase flowmeters and related methods are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a flowmeter and a fluid conduit to provide a flow path for a fluid relative to the flowmeter. The example apparatus includes a sensor coupled to the fluid conduit to generate data indicative of at least one of a presence, an absence, or a mass flow rate of solids in the fluid during flow of the fluid through the fluid conduit. The example apparatus includes a processor. The sensor is to be communicatively coupled to the processor. The processor is to selectively determine flow rates for one or more phases of the fluid based on data generated by the flowmeter and a first algorithmic mode or a second algorithmic mode selected based on the sensor data.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to flowmeters and, more particularly,to multiphase flowmeters and related methods.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Management of solid (e.g., sand production, fracturing proppant flowback) in the oil and gas production industry is an ongoing concernbecause solids can damage production equipment. For example, even smallamounts of sand can cause erosion over time when fluid flow velocitiesare high and excessive flow back of proppant solids can cause adversedamage to fractured rock formation. Accordingly, monitoring for sand orproppants can provide information about the onset of solid productionand/or an amount of solid produced as part of characterizing fluidflows, maintaining production equipment, and the productivity offractured shale oil-gas wells.

SUMMARY

Certain aspects of some embodiments disclosed herein are set forthbelow. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merelyto provide the reader with a brief summary of certain forms theinvention might take and that these aspects are not intended to limitthe scope of the invention. Indeed, the invention may encompass avariety of aspects that may not be set forth below.

An example apparatus includes a flowmeter and a fluid conduit to providea flow path for a fluid relative to the flowmeter. The example apparatusincludes a sensor coupled to the fluid conduit to generate dataindicative of at least one of a presence, an absence, or a mass flowrate of solids in the fluid during flow of the fluid through the fluidconduit. The example apparatus includes a processor. The sensor is to becommunicatively coupled to the processor. The processor is toselectively determine flow rates for one or more phases of the fluidbased on data generated by the flowmeter and a first algorithmic mode ora second algorithmic mode selected based on the sensor data.

An example method includes selecting a first algorithmic mode or asecond algorithmic mode based on a phase composition of a multiphasefluid flowing through a fluid conduit. In the example method, theselection is based on sensor data generated during flow of the fluidthrough the conduit. The sensor data is indicative of at least one of apresence, an absence, or a mass flow rate of solids in the fluid. Theexample method includes determining flow rates of one or more phases ofthe fluid based on the selected first algorithmic mode or the selectedsecond algorithmic mode.

Another example apparatus includes a flowmeter to generate fluid flowdata during flow of a multiphase fluid through a conduit. The exampleapparatus includes means for detecting solids in the fluid. The meansfor detecting is to generate sensor data during the flow of the fluidthrough the conduit. The example apparatus includes a processor toselect one of a first algorithmic mode or a second algorithmic mode todetermine flow rates of one or more phases of the fluid based on thesensor data.

Various refinements of the features noted above may exist in relation tovarious aspects of the present embodiments. Further features may also beincorporated in these various aspects as well. These refinements andadditional features may exist individually or in any combination. Forinstance, various features discussed below in relation to theillustrated embodiments may be incorporated into any of theabove-described aspects of the present disclosure alone or in anycombination. Again, the brief summary presented above is intended tofamiliarize the reader with certain aspects and contexts of someembodiments without limitation to the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system including a flow rate analyzer foranalyzing multiphase fluid flows in accordance with teachings of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is an example graph of an oil-water-gas linear attenuationtriangle that may be implemented by the example flow rate analyzer ofFIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is an example graph of a solid-liquid-gas linear attenuationtriangle that may be implemented by the example flow rate analyzer ofFIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example process for analyzing multiphase fluidflows in accordance with teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example sand detector in accordance with teachingsof this disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example system including the sand detector of FIG.5 and the flow rate analyzer of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7 illustrates another example system including the sand detector ofFIG. 5 and the flow rate analyzer of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 8 is an example graph of a solid-liquid-gas linear attenuationtriangle and an Oil-Water-Gas solution triangle in accordance withteachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 9 is another example graph of a solid-liquid-gas linear attenuationtriangle and an Oil-Water-Gas solution triangle in accordance withteachings of this disclosure.

FIGS. 10A and 10B include a flowchart of an example method that may beexecuted to implement the example flow rate analyzer of FIGS. 1, 6 ,and/or 7.

FIG. 11 is a processor platform to execute instructions to implement themethod of FIGS. 10A and 10B and/or, more generally, the example flowrate analyzer of FIGS. 1, 6 , and/or 7.

The figures are not to scale. Wherever possible, the same referencenumbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying writtendescription to refer to the same or like parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the present disclosure provides manydifferent embodiments, or examples, for implementing different featuresof various embodiments. Specific examples of components and arrangementsare described below for purposes of explanation and to simplify thepresent disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are notintended to be limiting.

When introducing elements of various embodiments, the articles “a,”“an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of theelements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intendedto be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements otherthan the listed elements. Moreover, any use of “top,” “bottom,” “above,”“below,” other directional terms, and variations of these terms is madefor convenience, but does not mandate any particular orientation of thecomponents.

In the oil and gas production industry, multiphase flowmeters (e.g.,multi-energy gamma ray based flowmeters) are used to monitor individualphases of a multiphase fluid flow including, for example, oil, water,and gas phases. In some instances, the multiphase flow can include fourphases, namely, water/brine; oil; gas; and solids such as sand,proppants, and/or drill-out debris. In the context of reservoircharacterization and production testing, misrepresentations with respectto detection of solids in the fluid flow can adversely affect theaccuracy of measurements obtained from data collected by the flowmeters.In the context of post-hydraulic fracturing operations such as frac-plugdrillout, clean-up, and/or frac flow back, multiphase proppant (e.g.,sand) monitoring is performed to verify that the amount of proppantproduced from the well is within a predefined operating envelope toprevent damage to the frac job, which can occur when significant amountsof proppants are mobilized from a near-wellbore region of the well.However, although three-phase multiphase flowmeters known in the art canprovide measurements for oil, water, and gas flow rates, such knownflowmeters may fail to provide accurate flow rates for each phase ininstances when the flow has four phases.

Disclosed herein are example systems and methods that provide formeasurements of four-phase flow rates for a flow including oil,water/brine, gas, and solids (e.g., sand). Examples disclosed hereinuse, for example, multi-energy gamma ray and venturi-based multiphaseflowmeters capable of analyzing three-phase flows in combination with asolid detection sensor (e.g., a conductivity probe, a piezoelectricsensor) to detect at least one of (a) a presence or an absence or (b) aflow rate (i.e., a mass flow rate) of solids such as sand at differentflow intervals. Based on the presence, the absence, or the mass flowrate of solids at a given time, examples disclosed herein selectivelyemploy different algorithms to determine individual flow rates foreither a three-phase flow or a four-phase flow. In examples disclosedherein, when no solids or substantially no solids are detected in theflow, an Oil-Water-Gas (OWG) linear attenuation solution triangle of amulti-energy gamma ray and venturi-based flowmeter is used to determineoil, water, and gas flow rates. Conversely, when solids are detected inthe flow, examples disclosed herein automatically adjust or switch thealgorithmic mode used to determine flow rates. In such examples, aSand-Liquid-Gas (SLG) linear attenuation solution triangle of themulti-energy gamma ray and venturi based flowmeter is used to determinesand, liquid (water and oil), and gas flow rates for the four-phaseflow.

The phase composition of the fluid flow evolves throughout workflowsoccurring at the well. For example, during a frac-plug drillout and fracflow back workflows, fluid flows in which four phases are simultaneouslypresent typically occur during the frac clean-up stages. In such stages,the water-liquid ratio (WLR) varies at a relatively slow and predictablerate. Further, during the frac clean-up states, solids in the flow maybe present as discrete sand slugs, and interleaved with periods ofsand-free flow. Based on these understandings of flow composition andfluid behavior at different workflow states, examples disclosed hereincapitalize on the capabilities of multi-energy gamma ray basedthree-phase flowmeters to measure water, oil, and gas phases. Inparticular, examples disclosed herein extend the capabilities of thethree-phase flowmeters to four-phase flows based on the detection ofsolids in the flow and the automatic switching between the OWG and SLGsolution triangles. Some examples disclosed herein further determinefluid flow properties such as WLR and/or solid-to-liquid ratios.

Also disclosed herein are example sand detectors that can be disposed ina flow path of a fluid conduit for direct or substantially directengagement with, for instance, sand in the fluid flow. Example sanddetectors disclosed herein include piezoelectric acoustic sensor(s) todetect impact of the sand on the detector during the fluid flow. Datagenerated by example sand detectors disclosed herein can be used todetect at least one of (a) the presence or the absence or (b) the massflow rate of sand in the fluid flow and to adjust the algorithmic mode(e.g., the OWG or SLG solution triangles) used to determine individualflow rates accordingly.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 for determining individualphase flow rates at different flow intervals for fluid flow includingthree phases (e.g., oil, water, and gas) and four phases (e.g., sand,liquid, gas, where liquid includes oil and water). The example system100 includes a multi-phase flowmeter (MPFM) 102. The MPFM 102 is, forexample, based on multi-energy gamma-ray transmission attenuation andventuri differential pressure measurements. The MPFM 102 measuresindividual phase flow rates of well fluids (e.g., gas, oil, water)flowing between an inlet 104 and an outlet 106 of a fluid conduit 108,as represented by arrows 110 of FIG. 1 . In the example of FIG. 1 , datagenerated by the MPFM 102 is transmitted (e.g., via one or more wired orwireless communication protocols) to a flow rate analyzer 112. The MPFMdata is stored in a database 114, which may be located at the flow rateanalyzer 112 or located elsewhere and in communication with the flowrate analyzer 112.

The example system 100 of FIG. 1 includes means for detecting solids,such as sand, in the fluid flow. In the example of FIG. 1 , the meansfor detecting solids includes one or more sensors 116. The soliddetection sensor(s) 116 can include piezoelectric acoustic sensors thatare coupled to the fluid conduit 108 at one or more locations such asnear the fluid conduit outlet 106. In some examples, the example system100 may include other sensors such as a water conductivity sensor 128.The water conductivity sensor 128 can include microwave sensor(s) thatare coupled to the fluid conduit 108 at one or more locations, such asat a blind-tee inlet 118 (e.g., an end flange) of the fluid conduit 108.The solid detection sensor(s) 116 and/or the water conductivity sensor128 can collect data during the flow periodically, aperiodically,substantially continuously, etc. For example, the solid detectionsensor(s) 116 and/or the water conductivity sensor 128 can collect dataevery second during the fluid flow. The data generated by the soliddetection sensor(s) 116 and/or the water conductivity sensor 128 istransmitted to the flow rate analyzer 112 and stored in the database114.

The example flow rate analyzer 112 of FIG. 1 selectively determinesindividual phase flow rates based on at least one of the presence or theabsence, or the mass flow rate of solids in the fluid flow, or based onchanges of conductivity (e.g., salinity) of water in the fluid flow. Inthe example of FIG. 1 , data collected by the solid detection sensor(s)116 and/or the water conductivity sensor 128 is used by the flow rateanalyzer 112 to determine the presence of solids or the salinity valueof water in the fluid flow and to dynamically adjust the algorithmsemployed by the flow rate analyzer 112 to determine one or more fluidproperties for the flow, such as individual phase flow rates, WLR,and/or a solids-in-liquid ratio (SLR).

The example flow rate analyzer 112 of FIG. 1 includes a solids detector120. The solids detector 120 analyzes the data received from the soliddetection sensor(s) 116. Based on the analysis of the data, the solidsdetector 120 identifies whether or not the fluid flow contains solids ina particular time interval. The solids detector 120 can detect thepresence of solids in the fluid flow based on the sensor data satisfyingone or more predefined thresholds with respect to, for instance,amplitude of the signal data generated by the piezoelectric acousticsensors.

The example flow rate analyzer 112 includes a solution mode switcher 122and a calculator 124. In the example of FIG. 1 , if the solids detector120 determines that no solids (e.g., sand) are present in the fluidflow, the solution mode switcher 122 determines that the calculator 124should use an Oil-Water-Gas (OWG) solution triangle to measure oil, gas,and water flow rates in the three-phase fluid flow. If the solidsdetector 120 determines that solids are present in the fluid flow, thesolution mode switcher 122 determines that the calculator 124 should usea Sand-Liquid-Gas (SLG) solution triangle to measure flow rates of sand,liquid (water and oil), and gas for the four-phase flow. At a latertime, if the solids detector determines that solids are no longerpresent in the fluid flow, the solution mode switcher 122 determinesthat the calculator 124 is to return to using the OWG solution triangle,as the fluid flow can be characterized as a three-phase flow. Thus, thesolution mode switcher 122 automatically switches the algorithmic modeused by the calculator 124 to determine fluid phase flow rates based thepresence or absence of solids in the fluid flow. The calculator 124 canuse the water conductivity (salinity) data provided by waterconductivity sensor 128 to verify the accuracy of the determination ofthe WLR and the flow rates of the fluid phase in examples where there isa significant change in the water salinity when using the OWG or SLGsolution triangles.

The calculator 124 determines the individual phase flow rates using theOWG solution triangle or the SLG solution triangle as selected by thesolution mode switcher 122. As disclosed herein, the OWG solutiontriangle and the SLG solution triangle can provide reference points foranalyzing the behavior of the phases of the fluid flow. In someexamples, the calculator 124 also determines one or more fluidproperties such as WLR and SLR.

The example flow rate analyzer 112 includes a communicator 126. Thecommunicator 126 can transmit one or more outputs generated by thecalculator 124 (e.g., WLR, SLR, flow rates) for presentation via, forinstance, a display screen in communication with the flow rate analyzer112. The outputs can be displayed in textual and/or visual (e.g.,graphical) form.

FIG. 2 is graphical depiction of an example OWG linear attenuationsolution triangle 200 that is used by the calculator 124 of the exampleflow rate analyzer 112 of FIG. 1 when determining individual phase flowrates for a three-phase fluid flow including oil, water, and gas. FIG. 3is a graphical depiction of an example SLG linear attenuation solutiontriangle 300 that is used by the calculator 124 of the flow rateanalyzer 112 of FIG. 1 when determining individual phase flow rates fora four-phase fluid flow including solids, liquid (i.e., oil and water),and gas. Gamma ray attenuation MPFMs (e.g., the MPFM 102 of FIG. 1 )measure gamma rays passing through a fluid in a fluid conduit (e.g., thefluid conduit 108 of FIG. 1 ). The attenuation of the gamma rays isaffected by the phase composition of the fluid. In the graphs of FIGS. 2and 3 , the x-axis represents low energy (LE) linear attenuation ofgamma rays passing through fluid and the y-axis represents high energy(HE) linear attenuation of gamma rays passing through the fluid.

Referring to FIG. 2 , an envelope for the OWG solution triangle 200 canbe defined over a range of water-in-liquid ratio (WLR) values by an oiloperating point 202, a water operating point 204, and a gas operatingpoint 206. Similarly, an envelope for the SLG solution triangle 300 ofFIG. 3 can be defined by a solid operating point 302, a liquid operatingpoint 304, and a gas operating point 306. The operating points for therespective phases can be based on calibration data for correspondingsingle phase fluids. In examples in which a significant change in watersalinity occurs, the water operating point 204 or the liquid operatingpoint 304 can be automatically recalibrated based on the water salinitydata provided by the water conductivity sensor 128 of FIG. 1 .

In the example of FIG. 3 , the liquid point 304 in the SLG solutiontriangle 300 can be determined in substantially real-time based on (a)an analysis of water and oil at a proportion of a last known WLR valuefor a three-phase fluid flowing through the fluid conduit 108 andassociated with the OWG solution triangle 200 and (b) an assumption thata change in WLR when solids (e.g., sand) are present is substantiallynegligible. To compute the liquid point 304, the following computationscan be performed by the example calculator 124 of the flow rate analyzer112. An in-situ analysis of a sand and water mixture in the MPFM 102 ofFIG. 1 yields a linear attenuation coefficient for the mixture λ_(mix)based on a Beer-Lambert equation:λ_(mix)=λ_(s)α_(s)+λ_(w)α_(w)  (Eq. 1),where α is a linear fraction equal to a volume fraction given constantbeam cross-section area. Equation 1 can be rearranged to solve for asand linear attenuation coefficient λ_(s):

$\begin{matrix}{\lambda_{s} = {\frac{\lambda_{mix} - {\lambda_{w}\alpha_{w}}}{\alpha_{s}}.}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{11mu} 2} \right)\end{matrix}$

A porosity (volumetric ratio) of the sand during in-situ can beexpressed as

$\begin{matrix}{\Phi = {\frac{V_{w}}{V_{s} + V_{w}} = {\alpha_{w} = {\left( {1 - \alpha_{s}} \right).}}}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{11mu} 3} \right)\end{matrix}$Accordingly, the sand linear attenuation coefficient λ_(s) can beexpressed in terms of porosity as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{\lambda_{s} = \frac{\lambda_{mix} - {\lambda_{w}\Phi}}{\left( {1 - \Phi} \right)}},} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{11mu} 4} \right)\end{matrix}$where λ_(mix) is determined from the sand and water mixture in-situ,water linear attenuation coefficient λ_(w) is initially determined fromwater in-situ, and (I) is determined from, for example, known dataobtained during lab measurements. As the specific gravity for sand ρ_(s)is known, the mass attenuation of sand can be calculated as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{\mu_{s} = {\frac{\lambda_{mix} - {\lambda_{w}\Phi}}{\rho_{s}\left( {1 - \Phi} \right)}.}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{11mu} 5} \right)\end{matrix}$

Equation 5 applies for a single energy window of the MPFM 102 of FIG. 1. The MPFM 102 can be associated with one or more energy windows (e.g.,a first energy window EW1, a second energy window EW2, an n^(th) energywindow EW_N, etc.) for radioactive elements or artificial sources. Insome examples, the energy windows include a low energy window (LE), ahigh energy window (HE), and a very high energy window (VHE) for, forinstance, a radioactive element. In some such examples, each of theMPFM's low energy, high energy and very high energy windows is acombination of several emissions of an isotope (such as barium ¹³³Ba,with LE=32, HE=81, VHE=356 kiloelectron volts (keV)). Accordingly,Equation 5 can be used as a first degree approximation as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{\mu_{s,e} \approx \frac{\lambda_{{mix},e} - {\lambda_{w,e}\Phi}}{\rho_{s}\left( {1 - \Phi} \right)}},{{{where}\mspace{14mu} e} \in {\left\{ {{LE},{HE},{VHE}} \right\}{({keV}).}}}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{11mu} 6} \right)\end{matrix}$

The foregoing analysis also applies to brine water if the same brinewater used for the water point in-situ is also used in a sand and brinemixture in-situ. A change in brine salinity can be measured using thebrine conductivity (salinity) sensor 128 to automatically adjust thevalues λ_(w,e) and ρ_(w) for brine water.

In the foregoing analysis, because the linear attenuation coefficientsfor water and oil λ_(w) and λ_(o) are obtained from water in-situ (andλ_(w) can be auto-adjusted by the salinity value measured by the waterconductivity sensor 128) and oil in-situ, a composite liquid linearattenuation can be expressed as:λ_(L)=λ_(w)·(WLR)+λ_(o)·(1−WLR)  (Eq. 7).The calculation of mass attenuation of the composite liquid can bedefined as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{\mu_{L} = \frac{{\lambda_{w} \cdot ({WLR})} + {\lambda_{o} \cdot \left( {1 - {WLR}} \right)}}{\rho_{L}}},{where}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{11mu} 8} \right) \\{\rho_{L} = {{\rho_{w} \cdot ({WLR})} + {\rho_{o} \cdot {\left( {1 - {WLR}} \right).}}}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{11mu} 9} \right)\end{matrix}$

Based on the foregoing equations, the calculator 124 of the example flowrate analyzer 112 of FIG. 1 can determine the fractions of solids,liquid and gas and their ratios such as solids-to-liquid ratio (SLR)using the SLG solution triangle.

FIG. 4 is a diagram 400 of an example process for analyzing multiphasefluid flows in accordance with teachings of this disclosure. Inparticular, the diagram 400 of FIG. 4 illustrates the switching betweenalgorithmic modes (e.g., the OWG solution triangle 200, the SLG solutiontriangle 300) by the example solution mode switcher 122 of the flow rateanalyzer 112 of FIG. 1 . As disclosed above, the solution mode switcher122 instructs the calculator 124 to use a particular solution trianglebased on the presence, the absence, or the mass flow rate of solids(e.g., sand) in the fluid flow as detected by the solids detector 120.

As shown in FIG. 4 , at a time before time t₁, the flow containssubstantially no sand and, thus, the solution mode switcher 122instructs the calculator 124 to determine a water flow rate value Q_(w),an oil flow rate value Q_(o), and a gas flow rate value Q_(g) based onthe OWG solution triangle and the data generated by the multi-energygamma-ray based MPFM 102. In the example of FIG. 4 , the calculator 124also calculates the WLR value based on the data generated by the MPFM102 for the three-phase flow. The calculator 124 can use the datagenerated by the water conductivity sensor 128 to verify an accuracy ofthe calculation of the WLR value in examples in which there is asignificant water salinity change.

In the example of FIG. 4 , at time t₁, the solids detector 120 detectsthe presence of sand in the flow based on data from the solid detectionsensor(s) 116. Accordingly, the solution mode switcher 122 determinesthat the calculator 124 should use the SLG solution triangle tocalculate individual phase flow rates for the four-phase fluid. Thesolution mode switcher 122 instructs the calculator 124 to use the SLGsolution triangle to calculate the flow rates of the solids (Q_(s)), gas(Q_(g)), and liquid (oil and water) (Q_(l)). In some examples, the soliddetection sensor(s) 116 may provide an independent solids mass flow ratemeasurement.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , in some examples, the WLR value calculated bythe calculator 124 using the OWG solution triangle is used by thecalculator 124 to determine the liquid point in the SLG solutiontriangle. The calculator 124 can use the data from the waterconductivity sensor 128 to verify an accuracy of the determination ofthe liquid point in the SLG solution triangle in examples in which thereis a significant water salinity change. Thus, in such examples, thecalculator 124 uses the last known WLR value as measured when sand isabsent from the flow. This use of the last known WLR value is based onan assumption that changes in WLR values are negligible during intervalswhere sand is present as compared to intervals where sand is absent. Asshown in FIG. 4 , in some other examples, the WLR value is provided as amanual input received by the flow rate analyzer 112.

The calculator 124 uses the SLG solution triangle to determine a sandflow rate value Q_(s), a gas flow rate value Q_(g), and a liquid flowrate value Q_(l). The calculator 124 uses the liquid flow rate valueQ_(l) and the WLR value for the period of time when the sand was absentfrom the flow to calculate a water flow rate value Q_(w) and an oil flowrate value Q_(o) for the flow during the time period in which sand ispresent in the flow. Thus, the calculator 124 determines individualphase flow rates for four-phase flows. The example system 100 of FIG. 1thereby extends the capabilities of the MPFM 102 with respect toanalyzing multiphase fluids.

At some time after time t₁, e.g., time t_(1+n) in FIG. 4 , the solidsdetector 120 determines that sand is substantially absent in the flowbased on data received from the solid detection sensor(s) 116.Accordingly, the solution mode switcher 122 instructs the calculator 124to return to using the OWG solution triangle. As during the timeinterval prior to time t₁, the calculator 124 uses the OWG solutiontriangle to calculate a water flow rate value Q_(w), an oil flow ratevalue Q_(o) and a gas flow rate value Q_(g) for the three-phase flow.The calculator 124 also calculates the WLR value for the flow in thecurrent time interval, which may also be used in future calculationswhen solids are detected in the flow again. The calculator 124 can usethe data generated by the water conductivity sensor 128 to verify anaccuracy of the calculation of the WLR value in examples in which thereis a significant water salinity change.

As disclosed above with respect to FIG. 1 , solids such as sand can bedetected in a fluid flow based on data generated by the solid detectionsensor(s) 116. Also, data generated by the water conductivity sensor 128for detecting brine/water salinity can be used to verify the accuracy ofthe determination of WLR and fluid phase flow rate(s) (which can includethe flow rate of the solids). In some other examples disclosed herein, apiezoelectric sand detector can be disposed in the fluid conduit 108 todetect sand in the fluid flow.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example sand detector 500 that can be disposed ina fluid conduit, such as the fluid conduit 108 of FIG. 1 . The examplesand detector 500 includes a piezoelectric (acoustic) sensor 502disposed in a detector body 504. The detector body 504 and thepiezoelectric sensor 502 are supported by a mandrel 506. The detectorbody 504 is mechanically isolated via, for example, one or moreelastomers 505 disposed between the detector body 504 and the mandrel506 to reduce mechanical noise. The piezoelectric sensor 502 iscommunicatively coupled to electronics 507 (e.g., a processor) via acoaxial cable 508. As disclosed below, the sand detector 500 can beimplemented as part of a sand flowmeter that includes the electronics507 for generating data in response to detection of sand by thepiezoelectric sensor 502 as the sand hits the detector body 504.

In operation, the sand detector 500 may be exposed to high velocitymultiphase flows containing sand and, as such, the sand detector 500 maybe subject to erosion over time. In some examples, the detector body 504includes a metal test piece 510 and a reference probe 512 coupledthereto. A baseline electrical resistance measurement through the metaltest piece 510 on the detector body 504 can be collected prior toexposure of the sand detector 500 to fluid flow. Periodic or continuouselectrical resistance measurements can be collected during fluid flowand analyzed (e.g., by the flow rate analyzer 112 of FIG. 1 ) todetermine deviations from the baseline measurement, which can indicatemetal loss arising from erosion.

FIG. 6 depicts a first example system 600 including a multi-phaseflowmeter (MPFM) 602 and the example sand detector 500 of FIG. 5 coupledto a fluid conduit 604. The MPFM 602 measures flow rates of a multiphasefluid flowing between an inlet 606 and an outlet 608 of the fluidconduit 604 through which a multiphase fluid flows, as represented byarrows 610 of FIG. 6 . The example system 600 includes a waterconductivity sensor 612 coupled to the fluid conduit 604 at a firstblind-tee inlet 614 (e.g., an end flange) of the fluid conduit 604. Thewater conductivity sensor 612 measures, for instance, changes in watersalinity. Data generated by the MPFM 602 and the water conductivitysensor 612 is transmitted (e.g., via one or more wired or wirelesscommunication protocols) for processing by the flow rate analyzer 112 ofFIG. 1 .

The example system 600 includes a sand flowmeter 616 including the sanddetector 500 of FIG. 5 . The sand flowmeter 616 is disposed a secondblind-tee inlet 618 (e.g., an end flange) of the fluid conduit 604. Asshown in FIG. 6 , the sand detector 500 is disposed in the fluid conduit604 (i.e., in a flow path of the fluid conduit 604) substantiallyperpendicular to a direction of the incoming fluid flow after exitingthe MPFM 602. As a result, solids (e.g., sand) in the fluid flow have adirect or substantially direct impact on the detector body 504 of thesand detector 500.

FIG. 7 depicts a second example system 700 including a multiphaseflowmeter (MPFM) 702, a water conductivity sensor 704, and a sandflowmeter 706 including the sand detector 500 coupled to a fluid conduit708, substantially as disclosed above in connection with FIG. 6 . Ascompared to the example of FIG. 6 , in the example of FIG. 7 , the waterconductivity sensor 704 is coupled to a vertical (e.g., top) end flange710 of the fluid conduit 708. In the example of FIG. 7 , the waterconductivity sensor 704 generates data after oil and water have mixeddownstream of a vertical portion 712 of the fluid conduit 708. The datacollected by the water conductivity sensor 704 can be used to determineWLR measurements in addition to salinity measurements. Also, thecoupling of the water conductivity sensor 704 to the vertical end flange710 reduces opportunities for sand build-up on a measurement surface ofthe conductivity probe 704 as fluid flows past the water conductivitysensor 704.

In the example systems 600, 700 of FIGS. 6 and 7 , the sand detector 500is positioned in the fluid conduit 604, 708 to encounter the fluid afterthe fluid exits the vertically installed MPFM 602, 702. Fluid flowingthrough the MPFM 602, 702, which can include a flow restriction devicesuch as a venturi (e.g., for differential-pressure flowrate measurement)typically exhibits increased homogeneity as compared to fluid that hasnot yet passed through the MPFM 602, 702. Sand in less homogeneous fluidflows or flows may be difficult for the sand detector 500 to accuratelydetect because the sand grains may impact the sand detector 500 innon-representative manner. Accordingly, placing the sand detector 500downstream of the MPFM 602, 702 results in improved detection of sand inthe fluid flow as compared to if the sand detector 500 were positionedupstream of MPFM 602, 702. However, the example sand detector 500 can bepositioned in the fluid conduit 604, 708 in other locations than shownin FIG. 6 and/or FIG. 7 .

In the examples of FIGS. 6 and 7 , data indicative of the detection ofsand by the sand detector 500 (e.g., data generated by the piezoelectricsensor 502) is transmitted to the flow rate analyzer 112. The soliddetector 120 (FIG. 1 ) of the flow rate analyzer 112 uses the sanddetection data generated by the sand detector 500 to determine whethersolids are present in the fluid flow or to determine sand mass flowrate. If solids are present in the fluid flow, the solid detector 120communicates with the solution mode switcher 122 (FIG. 1 ) to adjust thethree-phase or four-phase algorithmic mode (e.g., OWG or SLG solutiontriangles) used by the calculator 124 to calculate flow ratesaccordingly as disclosed above in connection with FIGS. 1-4 .

In some examples, the detection of sand by the sand detector 500 ofFIGS. 5-7 can be used by the flow rate analyzer 112 of FIGS. 1, 6, and 7to adjust and/or correct oil, water, and gas flow rate measurements inthe presence of sand when the sand concentration is too low formeasurement via multiphase flow metering alone.

In some other examples, gas-volume fraction and flow velocitymeasurements from the MPFM 602, 702 can be used to automatically adjustsignal amplification gain of the sand detector. The flow rate analyzer112 may help amplify the sand detector signal data to account forwhether the sand is being carried by gas- or liquid-dominant carryingfluid. For example, if sand is carried by a liquid-dominant flow, thesand detector signal data may need to be amplified because the sand doesnot impact the sand detector 500 as hard as when the sand is carried bya gas-dominant flow.

Laminar flows may result in a different detection response of thepiezoelectric sand detector 500 as compared to turbulent flows.Accordingly, the example flow rate analyzer 112 of FIGS. 1, 6, and 7 cancorrect the effects of different flow regimes to provide for improvedanalysis of the data from the sand detector 500 indicative of thepresence and mass flow rate of sand. For example, the calculator 124 ofthe flow rate analyzer 112 of FIGS. 1, 6, and 7 can use fluidcharacteristics such as Reynolds numbers to determine a degree ofconfidence with respect to the detection of sand. For a gas-liquid slugflow, slug flow characteristics can be used by the calculator 124 todetermine a degree of confidence in the sand detection measurements.

As mentioned above, in cases of four-phase flows, the oil and water flowrates (Q_(w) and Q_(o)) are determined based on WLR values enteredmanually or obtained from a MPFM measurement system, with the use of awater conductivity sensor that tracks changes in brine/water salinity toimprove accuracy of the WLR measurements made by the MPFM in cases ofvarying water salinity. In examples where the WLR values are manuallyinput, the calculator 124 of the flow rate analyzer 112 uses themanually input WLR value for calculations performed by the calculator124 until the WLR value is manually updated. However, the WLR and watersalinity values may change during workflows such as frac flow back. Inthe early phase of frac flow back, water salinity values are expected torise rapidly for a short duration. WLR and salinity values are expectedto decrease until reaching a stability period post-frac and then the WLRvalue may continuously increase during normal well production. Forexample, a well may start at 100% WLR post frac, finish at 30% WLR postfrac-flowback, and then increase as well productivity decreasesfollowing the simulation in production via fracturing.

To address the changes in WLR that may not be reflected in the manuallyinput WLR value, the example flow rate analyzer 112 of FIG. 1automatically updates the WLR value used in the calculation when solidsare absent from the fluid flow (i.e., the manually input WLR value).FIG. 8 illustrates a graph including a SLG linear attenuation solutiontriangle 800 and an OWG linear attenuation solution triangle 802. In theexample of FIG. 8 , the apexes of the triangles 800, 802 represent 100%phase fraction for each individual phase (where liquid is considered aphase). In some examples, the actual WLR value may be lower than themanually input WLR value. When an operating point 804 is outside of thegas-liquid line in the SLG solution triangle 800, the solution modeswitcher 122 of the flow rate analyzer 112 determines that the WLR haschanged to include more oil and less water during periods of no solids.The calculator 124 automatically adjusts the fractions of oil and waterto re-compute the WLR. Accordingly, the calculator 124 adjusts a liquidpoint 806 along the water-oil line of the OWG solution triangle 802. Asshown in FIG. 9 , as a result of the adjustment of the WLR value, theoperating point 804 moves inside the SLG solution triangle 800. In otherexamples in which the operating point 804 is outside the solid-liquidline of the SLG solution triangle 800, the calculator 124 automaticallyincreases the WLR value. As a result, the liquid point 806 moves towardthe water point until the operation point 804 is inside the SLG solutiontriangle 800. The calculator 124 may perform several iterations withrespect to adjusting the liquid point in the OWG solution triangle 802or the SLG solution triangle 800 until the operating point falls insidethe triangle(s).

While an example manner of implementing the flow rate analyzer 112 isillustrated in FIGS. 1, 6, and 7 , one or more of the elements,processes and/or devices illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6 , and/or 7 may becombined, divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implementedin any other way. Further, the example database 114, the example solidsdetector 120, the example solution mode switcher 122, the examplecalculator 124, the example communicator 126, and/or, more generally,the example flow rate analyzer 112 of FIGS. 1, 6 , and/or 7 may beimplemented by hardware, software, firmware and/or any combination ofhardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any of theexample database 114, the example solids detector 120, the examplesolution mode switcher 122, the example calculator 124, the examplecommunicator 126, and/or, more generally, the example flow rate analyzer112 of FIGS. 1, 6, and 7 could be implemented by one or more analog ordigital circuit(s), logic circuits, programmable processor(s),programmable controller(s), graphics processing unit(s) (GPU(s)),digital signal processor(s) (DSP(s)), application specific integratedcircuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)), fieldprogrammable gate array(s) (FPGA(s)), and/or field programmable logicdevice(s) (FPLD(s)). When reading any of the apparatus or system claimsof this patent to cover a purely software and/or firmwareimplementation, at least one of the example database 114, the examplesolids detector 120, the example solution mode switcher 122, the examplecalculator 124, the example communicator 126, and/or, more generally,the example flow rate analyzer 112 of FIGS. 1, 6 , and/or 7 is/arehereby expressly defined to include a non-transitory computer readablestorage device or storage disk such as a memory, a digital versatiledisk (DVD), a compact disk (CD), a Blu-ray disk, etc. including thesoftware and/or firmware. Further still, the example flow rate analyzer112 of FIGS. 1, 6 , and/or 7 may include one or more elements, processesand/or devices in addition to, or instead of, those illustrated in FIGS.1, 6 , and/or 7, and/or may include more than one of any or all of theillustrated elements, processes and devices. As used herein, the phrase“in communication,” including variations thereof, encompasses directcommunication and/or indirect communication through one or moreintermediary components, and does not require direct physical (e.g.,wired) communication and/or constant communication, but ratheradditionally includes selective communication at periodic intervals,scheduled intervals, aperiodic intervals, and/or one-time events.

A flowchart representative of example hardware logic, machine readableinstructions, hardware implemented state machines, and/or anycombination thereof that may be used to implement the example flow rateanalyzer 112 of FIGS. 1, 6, and 7 is shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. Themachine readable instructions may be an executable program or portion ofan executable program for execution by a computer processor such as theprocessor 1112 shown in the example processor platform 1100 discussedbelow in connection with FIG. 11 . The program may be embodied insoftware stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage mediumsuch as a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a hard drive, a DVD, a Blu-ray disk, ora memory associated with the processor 1112, but the entire programand/or parts thereof could alternatively be executed by a device otherthan the processor 1112 and/or embodied in firmware or dedicatedhardware. Further, although the example program is described withreference to the flowchart illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, many othermethods of implementing the example flow rate analyzer 112 mayalternatively be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocksmay be changed, and/or some of the blocks described may be changed,eliminated, or combined. Additionally or alternatively, any or all ofthe blocks may be implemented by one or more hardware circuits (e.g.,discrete and/or integrated analog and/or digital circuitry, an FPGA, anASIC, a comparator, an operational-amplifier (op-amp), a logic circuit,etc.) structured to perform the corresponding operation withoutexecuting software or firmware.

As mentioned above, the example process of FIGS. 10A and 10B may beimplemented using executable instructions (e.g., computer and/or machinereadable instructions) stored on a non-transitory computer and/ormachine readable medium such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, aread-only memory, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a cache, arandom-access memory and/or any other storage device or storage disk inwhich information is stored for any duration (e.g., for extended timeperiods, permanently, for brief instances, for temporarily buffering,and/or for caching of the information). As used herein, the termnon-transitory computer readable medium is expressly defined to includeany type of computer readable storage device and/or storage disk and toexclude propagating signals and to exclude transmission media.

FIGS. 10A and 10B include a flowchart of example method 1000 foranalyzing a multiphase fluid flowing through a pipe during timeintervals in which the fluid includes three phases (e.g., oil, water,and gas) and time intervals in which the fluid includes four phases(e.g., solids, oil, water, and gas). The example method 1000 of FIGS.10A and 10B can be implemented by the example flow rate analyzer 112 ofFIGS. 1, 6, and 7 .

The example method 1000 of FIGS. 10A and 10B includes accessing dataindicative of fluid flowing through a fluid conduit in a first timeinterval (block 1002). The data can be generated by, for example, theMPFM 102, 602, 702 of FIGS. 1, 6, and 7 , the solid detection sensor(s)116 of FIG. 1 , and/or the sand flowmeters 616, 706 including thepiezoelectric sand detector 500 of FIG. 5 as fluid flows through thefluid conduit 108, 604, 708. The data is transmitted to the flow rateanalyzer 112 of FIG. 1 and stored in the database 114. The time intervalcan have a duration of, for example, one second.

The example method 1000 includes determining if solids (e.g., sand) arepresent in the fluid flow in the first time interval (block 1004). Forexample, the solids detector 120 of the flow rate analyzer 112 analyzesthe data received from the MPFM 102, 602, 702, the solid detectionsensor(s) 116, and/or the sand flowmeters 616, 706 including the sanddetector 500 to determine whether solids such as sand are present in thefluid. The solids detector 120 can detect solids based on signal datameeting predefined threshold(s) (e.g., amplitude threshold(s)).

If the fluid flow does not include solids in the first time interval,the example method 1000 includes checking if the fluid flow during thepreceding time interval included solids (block 1006). For example, thesolids detector 120 can analyze the data previously collected for theearlier time interval and stored in the database 114. If the fluid flowin the preceding time interval included solids, the solution modeswitcher 122 of the example flow rate analyzer 112 determines that analgorithmic mode (e.g., the solution triangles 200, 300, 800, 802) usedby the calculator 124 of the flow rate analyzer 112 should be updatedfrom the algorithmic mode used for four-phase fluid flows (e.g., the SLGsolution triangle 300, 800) to the algorithmic mode used for three-phasefluid flows (e.g., the OWG solution triangle 200, 802). In suchexamples, the method 1000 includes switching between algorithmic modesto enable the calculator 124 to use the algorithmic mode for three-phasefluid flows to analyze the fluid in the first time interval (block1008).

The example method 1000 includes applying a first algorithmic model(e.g., the OWG solution triangle 200, 802) to determine one or morefluid flow properties of the three-phase flow (block 1010). For example,the calculator 124 uses the OWG solution triangle 200, 802 and datagenerated by the MPFM 102, 602, 702 to determine gas, water, and oilflow rates. In some examples, the calculator 124 determines awater-in-liquid (WLR) ratio based on the data received from the MPFM102, 602, 702 and the solid detection sensor(s) 116. In some examples,the water conductivity sensor 128, 612, 704 provides water salinitymeasurements that are used by the calculator 124 to correct for changesin the water-point of the OWG solution triangle due to salinity change,thereby improving the accuracy of the WLR determination. Thecommunicator 126 of the flow rate analyzer 112 can output the valuesgenerated by the calculator 124 for presentation.

The example method 1000 includes accessing data indicative of fluidphases of the fluid flowing through the fluid conduit in a second timeinterval (block 1012). For example, the flow rate analyzer 112 continuesto receive data from the MPFM 102, 602, 702, the water conductivitysensor 128, 612, 704, the solid detection sensor(s) 116, and/or the sandflowmeters 616, 706 including the sand detector 500 during the flow offluid through the fluid conduit 108, 604, 708.

The example method 1000 includes determining if solids are present inthe fluid flow in the second time interval (block 1014). For example,the solids detector 120 analyzes the data received in the second timeinterval (e.g., from the solid detection sensor(s) 116, 500) todetermine if the data indicates the presence of sand in the fluid flow.

In the example of FIGS. 10A and 10B, if solids are detected in the fluidflow in the second time interval, the example method 1000 includesswitching between the first algorithmic mode and the second algorithmicmode (block 1016). For example, if the solids detector 120 detects thatsolids are present in the fluid flow, the solution mode switcher 122determines that the calculator 124 should use the SLG solution triangle300, 800 to analyze the four-phase fluid.

The example method 1000 includes applying a second algorithmic model(e.g., the SLG solution triangle 300, 800) to determine one or morefluid flow properties of the four-phase flow (block 1018). For example,the calculator 124 uses the SLG solution triangle 300, 800 and datagenerated by the MPFM 102, 602, 702 to determine solid, gas, and liquidflow rates. In some examples, the calculator 124 determines the liquidpoint in the SLG solution triangle 300, 800 based the WLR valuecalculated by the calculator 124 using the OWG solution triangle in thefirst time interval. In other examples, the WLR value is manually inputat the flow rate analyzer 112. Also, in some examples, the calculator124 determines water and oil flow rates based on the liquid flow rateand the water-in-liquid (WLR) values. In the some example, thecalculator 124 determines a solids-in-liquid ratio (SLR). In the someexamples, the water conductivity sensor 128, 612, 704 provides watersalinity measurements that are used by the calculator 124 to correct forchanges in the liquid-point of the SLR solution triangle due to salinitychanges, thereby improving the accuracy of the WLR and SLRdeterminations. The communicator 126 of the flow rate analyzer 112 canoutput the values generated by the calculator 124 for presentation.

The example method 1000 includes accessing data indicative of fluidphases of the fluid flowing through the fluid conduit in a third timeinterval (block 1020) and determining whether there are solids in thefluid flow in the third time interval (block 1022). In the example ofFIGS. 10A and 10B, if the solids detector 120 determines that the fluidflow in the third time interval does not include solids (i.e., solidsare now absent in the fluid as compared to the second time interval),the solutions mode switcher 122 recognizes that the algorithmic modeused by the calculator 124 to analyze the fluid should be adjusted. Theexample method 1000 includes switching between the first and secondalgorithmic modes (block 1024).

The example method 1000 includes determining if the WLR value used inconnection with the algorithmic mode(s) is a manually input value (block1026). If the WLR value is a manually input value, the example method1000 include re-computing the WLR value to account for changes in theWLR due the absence of solids in the flow (block 1028). For example, ifan operating point for the fluid falls outside, for example, thegas-liquid line of the SLG solution triangle 800, the calculator 124recognizes that the WLR values has changed in the absence of solids inthe fluid. The calculator 124 iteratively moves the liquid point in thetriangle to bring the operating point inside the triangle, as discussedabove in connection with FIGS. 8 and 9 .

The example method 1000 includes applying the first algorithmic mode todetermine fluid flow properties of the three-phase flow (block 1030).For example, the calculator 124 applies the OWG solution triangle 200,802 to determine flow rates of the fluid now having three phases.

In the example of FIGS. 10A and 10B, if no change is detected withrespect to the presence of absence of solids from the fluid flow in thedifferent time intervals (e.g., blocks 1006, 1014, 1022), the calculator124 continues to use a particular algorithmic mode (e.g., the SLGsolution triangle 300, 800, the OWG solution triangle 200, 802) untilthe solids detector 120 detects a change in the fluid phase composition.The example method 1000 continues to analyze the fluid with respect tophase composition and corresponding fluid properties until a decision ismade to stop monitoring the fluid flow (blocks 1032, 1034).

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an example processor platform 1100structured to execute the instructions to implement the method of FIGS.10A and 10B and the flow rate analyzer 112 of FIGS. 1, 6 , and/or 7. Theprocessor platform 1100 can be, for example, a server, a personalcomputer, a workstation, a self-learning machine (e.g., a neuralnetwork), a mobile device (e.g., a cell phone, a smart phone, a tabletsuch as an iPad™), a personal digital assistant (PDA), an Internetappliance, or any other type of computing device.

The processor platform 1100 of the illustrated example includes aprocessor 1112. The processor 1112 of the illustrated example ishardware. For example, the processor 1112 can be implemented by one ormore integrated circuits, logic circuits, microprocessors, GPUs, DSPs,or controllers from any desired family or manufacturer. The hardwareprocessor may be a semiconductor based (e.g., silicon based) device. Inthis example, the processor implements the example solids detector 120,the example solution mode switcher 122, the example calculator 124, andthe example communicator 126.

The processor 1112 of the illustrated example includes a local memory1113 (e.g., a cache). The processor 1112 of the illustrated example isin communication with a main memory including a volatile memory 1114 anda non-volatile memory 1116 via a bus 1118. The volatile memory 1114 maybe implemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM),Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS® Dynamic Random AccessMemory (RDRAM®) and/or any other type of random access memory device.The non-volatile memory 1116 may be implemented by flash memory and/orany other desired type of memory device. Access to the main memory 1114,1116 is controlled by a memory controller.

The processor platform 1100 of the illustrated example also includes aninterface circuit 1120. The interface circuit 1120 may be implemented byany type of interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface, auniversal serial bus (USB), a Bluetooth® interface, a near fieldcommunication (NFC) interface, and/or a PCI express interface.

In the illustrated example, one or more input devices 1122 are connectedto the interface circuit 1120. The input device(s) 1122 permit(s) a userto enter data and/or commands into the processor 1112. The inputdevice(s) can be implemented by, for example, an audio sensor, amicrophone, a camera (still or video), a keyboard, a button, a mouse, atouchscreen, a track-pad, a trackball, isopoint and/or a voicerecognition system.

One or more output devices 1124 are also connected to the interfacecircuit 1120 of the illustrated example. The output devices 1124 can beimplemented, for example, by display devices (e.g., a light emittingdiode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a cathode ray tube display (CRT), an in-place switching(IPS) display, a touchscreen, etc.), a tactile output device, a printerand/or speaker. The interface circuit 1120 of the illustrated example,thus, typically includes a graphics driver card, a graphics driver chipand/or a graphics driver processor.

The interface circuit 1120 of the illustrated example also includes acommunication device such as a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, amodem, a residential gateway, a wireless access point, and/or a networkinterface to facilitate exchange of data with external machines (e.g.,computing devices of any kind) via a network 1126. The communication canbe via, for example, an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line(DSL) connection, a telephone line connection, a coaxial cable system, asatellite system, a line-of-site wireless system, a cellular telephonesystem, etc.

The processor platform 1100 of the illustrated example also includes oneor more mass storage devices 1228 for storing software and/or data.Examples of such mass storage devices 1128 include floppy disk drives,hard drive disks, compact disk drives, Blu-ray disk drives, redundantarray of independent disks (RAID) systems, and digital versatile disk(DVD) drives.

Coded instructions 1132 of FIG. 11 may be stored in the mass storagedevice 1128, in the volatile memory 1114, in the non-volatile memory1116, and/or on a removable non-transitory computer readable storagemedium such as a CD or DVD.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the above-disclosedapparatus, systems, and methods provide for dynamic analysis of fluidflows including three-phases or four-phases at different intervalsthroughout the flow. In examples disclosed herein, a flow rate analyzeranalyzes data received from sensors monitoring the fluid flow to detectwhether or not solids are present in the flow. The example flow rateanalyzer selectively implements a particular algorithmic mode (e.g., inthe form of a solution triangle) based on the presence or absence ofsolids in the flow. Thus, examples disclosed herein provide forefficient analysis of four-phase fluids and/or fluids that changebetween three-phase and four-phase compositions over time. Examplesdisclosed herein adapt and extend the capabilities of multi-energygamma-ray based multiphase flowmeters as part of analyzing flowrates offour-phase fluids. Also disclosed herein are example piezoelectricacoustic sand detectors that can be installed in a flow path of a fluidconduit to enable sand to directly impact the detectors for improveddetection of solids in the fluid flow.

In the specification and appended claims: the term “coupled” is used tomean “directly coupled together” or “coupled together via one or moreelements.” As used herein, the terms upstream,” “downstream,” and otherlike terms indicating relative positions above or below a given point orelement are used in this description to more clearly describe someembodiments of the disclosure.

“Including” and “comprising” (and all forms and tenses thereof) are usedherein to be open ended terms. Thus, whenever a claim employs any formof “include” or “comprise” (e.g., comprises, includes, comprising,including, having, etc.) as a preamble or within a claim recitation ofany kind, it is to be understood that additional elements, terms, etc.may be present without falling outside the scope of the correspondingclaim or recitation. As used herein, when the phrase “at least” is usedas the transition term in, for example, a preamble of a claim, it isopen-ended in the same manner as the term “comprising” and “including”are open ended. The term “and/or” when used, for example, in a form suchas A, B, and/or C refers to any combination or subset of A, B, C such as(1) A alone, (2) B alone, (3) C alone, (4) A with B, (5) A with C, (6) Bwith C, and (7) A with B and with C.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that thoseskilled in the art may better understand aspects of the presentdisclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they mayreadily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifyingother processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes orachieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein.Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalentconstructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions andalterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

Although the preceding description has been described herein withreference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is notintended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, itextends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses,such as are within the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a flowmeter; a fluid conduit to provide a flow path for a fluid relative to the flowmeter; a sensor coupled to the fluid conduit to generate sensor data indicative of at least one of a presence, an absence, or a mass flow rate of solids in the fluid during flow of the fluid through the fluid conduit; and a processor, the sensor to be communicatively coupled to the processor, the processor to selectively determine flow rates for one or more phases of the fluid based on data generated by the flowmeter and a first algorithmic mode or a second algorithmic mode selected based on the sensor data, and wherein if the sensor data indicates the absence of solids in the fluid, the processor is to determine an oil flow rate value, a water flow rate value, and a gas flow rate value based on the first algorithmic mode.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a piezoelectric acoustic sensor disposed in the flow path of the fluid conduit.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the piezoelectric acoustic sensor is disposed downstream of the flowmeter.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a water conductivity sensor to generate data indicative of a change in salinity of water in the fluid during flow of the fluid through the fluid conduit.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein if the sensor data indicates the presence of solids in the fluid, the processor is to determine a solid flow rate value, a gas flow rate value, and a liquid flow rate value based on the second algorithmic mode.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is to further determine a water flow rate value and an oil flow rate value based on the liquid flow rate value and a water-in-liquid ratio value.
 7. A method comprising: receiving first sensor data generated for a first time internal during flow of a multiphase fluid through a fluid conduit, the first sensor data indicative of at least one of a presence or a mass flow rate of solids in the multiphase fluid; selecting a first algorithmic mode or a second algorithmic mode based on a phase composition of the multiphase fluid flowing through the fluid conduit, the selection based on the first sensor data determining a value of a solids-in-liquid ratio for the multiphase fluid; determining flow rates of one or more phases of the multiphase fluid based on the selected first algorithmic mode; accessing second sensor data generated for a second time interval after the first time interval, the second sensor data indicative of an absence of solids in the multiphase fluid; switching from the first algorithmic mode to the second algorithmic mode based on the second sensor data; and determining the flow rates of the one or more phases of the multiphase fluid based on the second algorithmic mode for the second time interval.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second algorithmic mode and the first algorithmic mode include respective linear attenuation triangles for the multiphase fluid including three phases and the multiphase fluid including four phases.
 9. The method of claim 8, further including determining a liquid point in the linear attenuation triangle for the first algorithm mode during flow of the multiphase fluid through the fluid conduit.
 10. A method comprising: receiving first sensor data generated for a first time internal during flow of a multiphase fluid through a fluid conduit, the first sensor data indicative of an absence of solids in the multiphase fluid; selecting a first algorithmic mode or a second algorithmic mode based on a phase composition of the multiphase fluid flowing through the fluid conduit, the selection based on the first sensor data; determining flow rates of one or more phases of the multiphase fluid based on the selected first algorithmic mode or the second algorithmic mode; determining a value of a water-in-liquid ratio of the multiphase fluid for the first time interval; accessing second sensor data generated for a second time interval after the first time interval, the second sensor data indicative of at least one of a presence or a mass flow rate of solids in the multiphase fluid; and using the water-in-liquid ratio to determine at least one of a water flow rate value or an oil flow rate value for the multiphase fluid for the second time interval.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first algorithmic mode and the second algorithmic mode include respective linear attenuation triangles for the multiphase fluid including three phases and the multiphase fluid including four phases.
 12. The method of claim 11, further including determining a liquid point in the linear attenuation triangle for the second algorithm mode during flow of the multiphase fluid through the fluid conduit.
 13. A method comprising: receiving sensor data generated during flow of a multiphase fluid through a fluid conduit, the sensor data indicative of at least one of a presence, an absence, or a mass flow rate of solids in the multiphase fluid; selecting a first algorithmic mode or a second algorithmic mode based on a phase composition of the multiphase fluid flowing through the fluid conduit, wherein the first algorithmic mode and the second algorithmic mode include respective linear attenuation triangles for the multiphase fluid including three phases and the multiphase fluid including four phases, wherein the selection is based on the sensor data, and wherein if the sensor data is indicative of the presence or the mass flow rate of solids in the multiphase fluid, further including determining a value of a solids-in-liquid ratio for the multiphase fluid; determining flow rates of one or more phases of the multiphase fluid based on the selected first algorithmic mode or the selected second algorithmic mode; determining a liquid point in the linear attenuation triangle for the second algorithm mode during flow of the multiphase fluid through the fluid conduit; accessing water conductivity sensor data generated by a water conductivity sensor coupled to the fluid conduit, the water conductivity sensor data indicative of a change in salinity of water in the multiphase fluid; and adjusting a water point in the linear attenuation triangle for the first algorithmic mode or the liquid point in the linear attenuation triangle for the second algorithmic mode based on the water conductivity sensor data. 